River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-02-17

This decided the point Tommy re- {
ceived his orders. and in three DAYS /
more found himself on board the Dover
and Calais packet in charge of a large
dispatch-box and Mr.. Hodgson's bulky
portmanteaus. The journey was by
no means comfortable one. for the
young man found that he was expected
to travel second class. and generally
acted as courier TO his employer. When
AT last Turin was reached things were
no better Mathers found that his
Italian went but q very little way; and
besides, he had to do the VIC Of three
clerks. Sometimes he was tempted To
regret that he had left his comfortable
rooms in TorringtOn Square. Bloom
bury; but in his calmer moments he
reflected that at least he was occupying
a different position from that OF the
rest Of his fellow-clerks
The chief man in Turin. 50 far rs
HOdgsOn, Dunford. and Parr were con
cerned. was a certain Count Marsoni.
The Counts nobility did not prevent
his being the principal member of
large firm of merchants and ship-own-
ers. TO cultivate this man was. indeed.
the chief reason of Mr.. Hodgson jour
nev to Turin; and. As the old banker
knew very well how to lay aside lis
crusty and pompous manner when he
suited his book TO do 30. he soon came
to be a not infrequent guest at the
Villa Marsoni
Mr.. HodgsOn began 10 see that there
was a very faiI opening for an English
bank at Turin. and he was still en-
gagged in pushing his way here and
| there. when he received news that his
wife was seriously i'll. This made him
hurry off to England leaving Mathers
behind him TO complete "a transaction
which he had already practically ar
ranged.
Delighted at being left to represent
the firm. for ever 80 short a time, and
ever so formal a matter. Mathers was
pacing one day down the principal
street of the city with a look of con-
siderable Importance on his face when
he met Count MarsOni. The Count
stopped and asked after the old banker.
when Tommy proudly informed him
that he had returned to England. leay-
ing him in charge of the affairs of the
/ firm.
..Ah, indeed? Wen, there's a little
matter | wanted to speak of to him. -
Il shall be happy to serve you.
Count. said Tommy in his very best
Italian.
'.Well. suppose YOU dine with Us to-
night. and we can talk it over after
/ dinner" returned the Count, who
! thought he ought to show little at
tention to the lonely Englishman.
OF course the invitation was accepted.
and Tommy had no sooner entered the
drawing room at the Villa MarSoni than
he lost his heart at once, irrevOcably
| and forever Maria Marsoni was. in
deed, beautiful and vivaci0us enough
1 to have turned the head Of a wiser and
/ colder-bloOded man than Tommy Math-
ers: and SO ready was he to amuse her
/ by his efforts To speak a language that
/ he partially knew. that he won more
/ favor i'm the maiden's eyes than many
more brilliant tal5er would have done.
4 Such an impression. indeed did the sig
norita' bright ewes make upon Tommy
| susceptible heart that he was barely
/ able TO give due attention 20 the Count,
when. after dinner. he began II talk of
bills. discount, mortgages. and deben-
| lures.
Time went on; Mr.. Hodgson did not
return to Turin, and Mr.. Mathers paid
several visits 10 the Counts residence.
coming away more in love eve~y time.
Meanwhile. by dint of going about con-
tinuallv among the citizens. the Young
man was able 10 send home 50 good a
1 list of prospective customers that the
partners determined to establish branch
office ut Turin and offer young Mathers
a subordinate post in il.
Nothing definite however, had been
| fixed. when one day Tommy, finding
/ Maria Marsoni alone when he called ut
/ the villa. lost his head completely. and
as making love As wellaS his imperfect
knowledge OF Italian permitted when
| the Count, suddenly coming in caugL
/ him in the act of kissing his daughter
I hand
Maria fled like hare disturbed on
| her form, and the Count advanced
with a heavy frOwn on his aristocratic
/ brow
More a 4 matter of form than any
/ thing else, for he knew his ease was
! hopeless. Mathers formally asked the
1 nand of the SignOrita in marriage. lay-
ing the blame of his irregular declari-
ton on the strength of his passion "nd
his ignorance Of Italian etiquet.
The Count heard him 10 the end, and
then surveyed him from head 10 foot
with n look of contempt.
1T is piece of gross presumption
I in you-a mere clerk. 2 nobOdy-to
address my daughter, said the Count
at last i'm English, with his chin in the
air.
"Of course. sail Tommy bitterly.
stung by the Counts look If were
a partner in Hodgson's. though, You
would give ne different answer.
If YOU We're Il partner in Me~~rs.
Hodgson. Dunford Il Parr' = said the
Count. with an altered expression.
.'that would make a difference of
course; but ~ do not understand that
YOU have any prospect of entering
that firm. don't see how that affects
YOU
Tommy sighed. ant made his escape
a soon a possible. He knew that he
might a. well ask for the Lord
CHARACTERISTIC a. ask for partner
ship in the bank.
For two days ne remained in
state of collapse and then he received
adviceS from London informing him Of
the decision to which the firm had
come with respect to the new branch.
A few months before Mather- would
have been transported with delight at
the proposal which the firm made to
him; but now ne considered that he
was getting barely his due. and besides
! he was 80 cuy up with respect TO Maria
that mere commercial matters did not
possess their usual interest for HIM.
Suddenly, a he sat with the open
letter bearing the well-known signature
before him. Tommy conceived an idea
Without moment delay ne called
for his bill at the hotel, sent a waiter
| for a cab. and took the first train north
ward. He arrived at Victoria early in
the morning. went to a hotel. washed
and dressed himself, and purpOsely de-
laying until the partners should have
reached the office in st. Swithin' Lane.
he presented himself before his en-
ployers as they were engaged in dis